by In Trieste
All restrictions will be lifted gradually following the expiry of Italy’s state of emergency on 31 March, after more than two years of continuous rules designed to stem the spread of the virus.
From 1 May, there will no longer be any need for the Green Pass – the digital certificate proving the holder has been vaccinated or recently recovered from covid – which is currently required to access most services and activities in Italy, including restaurants and public transport.
The news was announced by PM Draghi and health minister Roberto Speranza on Thursday following a meeting at Palazzo Chigi in Rome.
The over-50s will no longer be required to have a Super Green Pass to access their workplace from 1 April. Those who are unvaccinated will need to present a negative covid test every couple of days, as is the case with unvaccinated workers under the age of 50.
People in Italy must continue to wear masks in closed public spaces, including schools and public transport, until 30 April. FFP2 masks will continue to be mandatory until this date on public transport as well as in cinemas and theaters.
Commuters on public transport will no longer be obliged to have a Green Pass from 1 April. It will however remain a requirement on long-distance transport until 30 April.
From 1 April the Green Pass will no longer be required to enter post offices, banks, tobacconists or public offices.
For tourists, the Green Pass will not be required anymore in hotels from 1 April onwards.
The decree will also see the lifting of the ‘contact’ quarantine rules in schools. From 1 April remote learning will only apply to students with covid-19, not their classmates.
All crowd limits for venues such as sports stadiums, concerts and open-air night clubs, will be canceled enabling them to operate to 100 per cent capacity from 1 April, with the basic Green Pass required.
The government will cancel the color coded risk system for Italian regions and dismantle its structure of coronavirus advisors on 31 March.
